Explicit picture of Heat forward Wright surfaces on Internet

Miami Heat

Photo was taken during private chat session last year

Miami Heat forward Dorell Wright is the third NBA player in recent months to have an explicit picture of himself surface on the Internet.

A picture of Wright, taken during a private video chat session a year ago, has surfaced on several websites as well as various Twitter accounts.

Wright's Twitter account has since been shuttered.

"I'd like to apologize to my family, fans and the Heat organization for this embarrassment," Wright said in a statement issued by the team. "The photos were taken roughly one year ago in what I thought was a private conversation. I lacked judgment and was naive about the Internet. I realize this is not an excuse, but it is something I truly regret. I realize this affects my entire family and I am embarrassed by it."

The Heat had no comment.

Earlier this season, Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden and San Antonio Spurs guard George Hill apologized for explicit frontal photos of themselves that appeared on the Web.

Wright was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a suspended license on March 11, with those charges still pending. He was suspended for two games by Team President Pat Riley in the wake of that incident. He since has issued an apology for that incident.

According to the site mediatakeout.com, a groupie posted the picture after Wright's girlfriend, who is the mother of his child, was expounding on Wright's virtues.